Steam-separator.



H. W. SPENCER.

STEAM SEPARATOR,

APPLICATION FILED 33.27, 1909.

lliin eases; fiwerdarfi \NL C WW Patented June 7, 1910.

HENRY W. SPENCER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

STEAM-SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 27,1909.

Patented June *7, 1910.

Serial No. 480,484.

To all 'whom it 'ma'y concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. SPENCER, a British subject, residing atLondon, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteam-Separators, of which the following is'a specification.

My invention relates to steam separators and itsobject is to providemeans for thoroughly separating and eliminating from steam all the waterand oil that may be held in suspension by the steam or condensed fromthe steam in its passage from theboiler to an engine, or elsewhere. Thisobject is accomplished by causing the steam to be frequently deflectedin its course or by giving to it a whirling motion, and I accomplishthis purpose by forming and arranging the parts of the separator ashereinafter described.

I will describe my device as applied to steam whistles, though it isapplicable and adaptable in all cases where it is desired to employ asteam separator.

The pipes of steam whistles have heretofore been provided with drainpipes or equivalent devices for draining therefrom by gravity the wateraccumulated therein, but, while such devices are eificient for emptyingthe steam whistle pipes of any water, they are ineffective for thepurpose of continuously separating and removing the water contained inand carried by the steam through the pipes to the whistle. In thenumerous cases where the steam contains an appreciable percentage ofwater such water-charged steam has no action, .or no immediate action,on the steam whistle and no sound is emitted thereby, or the sounding isdelayed for some little time after the admission of the steam to thewhistle, and serious accidents frequently result. Such disadvantages areobviated by this invention.

A vertical section of this invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing.

The apparatus consists of three concentrically arranged cylindricalvessels A, B, C, the outermost A of which is a closed chamber providedat the lower part with a steam inlet A by which it is attached to theupper end of the steam whistle pipe (not shown in the drawing). Theintermediate vessel B is also a closed chamber and is provided at ornear to its upper end with any suitable number of vertically arrangedslots or apertures B to allow the steam to pass therethrough from theouter vessel A. (Jentrally arranged on the bottom B of the intermediatevessel B and beneath the open mouth of the inner vessel G is a doubleconical or conoidal base or abutment .B The inner vessel O projectsdownward in the intermediate vessel B below the steam apertures Btherein and is provided with an open bottom which is flared outward asshown at C This inner vessel is provided with a steam outlet C to whichthe steam whistle is secured. The intermediate vessel B is furtherprovided with pipes B for conveying and discharging the separated waterfrom the vessel B into the lower part or base of the outer vessel A, andthe said outer vessel is provided with a connection A for a pipe forleading the separated water to a steam trap or other receptacle. Theouter vessel A is preferably lagged with a suitable non-conductingmaterial A which is kept in place by a metallic sheathing A The actionof the apparatus is as follows: The steam admitted to the outer vessel Athrough the inlet A strikes against the underside of the bottom B of theintermediate vessel B and passes up the outside thereof and enters theinterior through the vertically arranged slots B at or near the upperend, it then impinges on the exterior surface of the inner vessel C. Theoutwardly flared mouth C of the inner vessel causes the steam to strikeagainst the interior of the intermediate vessel B whence it rebounds tothe central double conical or conoidal base or abutment B By thisabutment the steam is directed upward through the inner vessel G to thesteam whistle without eddying or whirling and consequent irregularity offlow.

By the continuous separation of the water from the steam in the mannerdescribed the steam admitted to the apparatus will pass in asubstantially dry state to the whistle.

Obviously the invention can be applied to existing steam whistle pipesprovided with gravity water draining devices, as the invention willseparate any condensed water present, or formed, in the steam during itsupward passage through the pipes to the whistle.

As a modification the inner vessel C may be closed at the bottom andprovided with vertically arranged steam admission aperturesnon-coincident with those in the intermediate vessel and provided withdrain pipes or drain holes to pass the separated water to theintermediate vessel.

Claims:

1. A steam separator comprising three concentrically arrangedcylindrical chambers, the outer chamber having a'closed bottom with asteam inlet, the inner chamber having an outwardly flared open bottomand a steam outlet at its upper end, the intermediate chamber having aclosed bottom, a double conical or conoidal abutment centrally arrangedthereon and steam admission apertures near its upper end, saidintermediate and-outer vessels being furnished with water drainingpipes; substantially as described.

2. A separator comprising an outer chamber having an opening in itsbottom for the admission of steam and another opening therein for theescape of water, an intermediate chamber furnished with openings intosaid outer chamber for the admission of steam, other openings into saidouter chamber for the escape of water and furnished with a conicalabutment, and an inner chamber with a flared bottom opening into saidintermediate chamber above said conical abutment and having an outlet atits upper end for the escape of steam; substantially as described.

3. A steam separator comprising an outer chamber having a steam inletand a water outlet, an intermediate chamber in the upper part of saidouter chamber and communicating therewith by steam passages; and aninner chamber in the upper part of said intermediate chamber andcommunicating therewith by t steam passages, said inner chamber having asteam outlet and said intermediate and inner chambers, or either ofthem, having a water outlet; substantially as described.

4. A steam separator comprising an outer chamber having a steam inletand a water outlet, an intermediate chamber in the upper part of saidouter chamber and communicating therewith by steam passages; and aninner chamber in the upper part of said intermediate chamber andcommunicating therewith by steam passages, said inner chamber having asteam outlet; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

HENRY W. SPENCER.

Witnesses:

H. D. J AMESON, HAROLD Emuo STEPHEN.

